Howell Fire District Budgets Up For Vote: Where To Cast A Ballot

HOWELL, NJ - While the New Jersey primary election is still weeks away on June 8, voters in Howell are gearing up for another important vote on April 20: the fire district budget.

Between 2 and 9 p.m. on April 20, Howell residents can vote in contested fire commissioner elections and budget proposals.

Here’s where to vote based on your fire district:

• District 1 (Squankum): 271 Squankum Road
• District 2 (Adelphia): 925 Adelphia Road
• District 3 (Southard): 4611 Route 9 North
• District 4 (Ramtown): 88 Ramtown - Greenville Road
• District 5 (Freewood Acres): 17 East 5th Street

Here is the breakdown of the proposed budget (to be raised by taxation) for each department:

District 1 (Squankum)
2020 Budget: $1,129,750
2021 Budget: $1,192,992

District 2 (Adelphia)
2020 Budget: $1,100,000
2021 Budget: $1,100,000

Incumbents Frank E. Biddle III and Doug Howlett are running unopposed in the election for board of fire commissioners.

District 3 (Southard)
2020 Budget: $1,913,574
2021 Budget: $1,945,741

Incumbents Donald Franklin, Jr. and Louis B. Memmolo, III are running unopposed.

There will also be a vote on a capital expense item in the amount of $1,300,000.00 for the purchase of an aerial ladder and necessary equipment to make its associated emergency response vehicle functional.

You can view a breakdown of the proposed budget here.

District 4 (Ramtown)
2020 Budget: $887,579
2021 Budget: $905,500

Two capital expense items are up for vote. The fire district clerk did not immediately respond to a request for clarification regarding the expense items.

“The Capital items will be paid for from the Board’s savings and will not affect your annual tax rates,” the fire district wrote in a Facebook post.

District 5 (Freewood Acres)
2020 Budget: $812,834
2021 Budget: $812,834

Incumbents Robert Donahue and Kenneth Harper are running unopposed in the election for board of fire commissioners.